U. S. One, Maine to Florida

Washington, D.C. -- Fredericksburg -- Richmond -- Petersburg -- N.C. Line, 205.9 m. Mount Vernon Memorial Highway and US 1.

Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac R.R. parallels this route between Washington and Richmond; Seaboard Air Line and Atlantic Coast Line between Richmond and Petersburg; and Seaboard Air Line between Petersburg and the N.C. Line.

Well-paved roadbed but in many places too narrow for the heavy traffic; drivers should be particularly watchful for trucks at night because they often stop on the highway, and the rolling nature of the country frequently prevents a clear view of the road for any considerable distance.

Accommodations of various kinds at frequent intervals; better hotels principally in cities.

There are two routes for US 1 between the White House in Washington and US 1 S. of the Potomac River:

By the 14th St. Highway Bridge: E. from White House on Pennsylvania Ave. to 15th St. NW.; R. on 15th St. to Pennsylvania Ave.; L. on Pennsylvania Ave. to 14th St. NW.; R. on 14th St. to bridge, 2 m. At the south end of the bridge, straight ahead for US 1 or R. in a loop to reach Mount Vernon Memorial Highway (US 1-Alt.), which runs under south end of bridge. This route has many traffic lights and is apt to be congested between 7 and 9 a.m. and 4 and 6 p.m.

Between the south end of the 14th St. Highway Bridge and Alexandria, Va., and between Alexandria and a point 8 miles S. of that town, two routes are available: the Memorial Highway and US 1. The former is a boulevard close to the river, passing Mount Vernon; the latter a narrow heavily traveled highway with many busses and trucks and few points of interest.

By Arlington Memorial Bridge: W. on Pennsylvania Ave. to 17th St. NW.; L. on 17th St. to Constitution Ave.; R. on Constitution Ave. to 23rd St. NW.; L. on 23rd St. and around Lincoln Memorial to bridge, 1.5 m.; L. on Mount Vernon Memorial Highway.

From the Arlington Memorial Bridge, ARLINGTON (open daily Apr.-Aug. 9-6; March and Sept. 9-5; Oct.-Feb. 9-4:30; adm. free) is plainly visible on the bluff ahead. The house was built by Robert E. Lee's father-in-law, George Washington Parke Custis. Its stately portico affords a superb view of the Potomac and overlooks Arlington National Cemetery (see WASHINGTON. CITY AND CAPITAL and VA. GUIDE), on its one-time lawn. It was occupied for many years after Lee left it to head the armies of the Confederacy, but it is now

-185-